Back Again

Zia stood alone in the kitchen as the front door clicked shut behind her friends. She blinked, staring at the empty space where they had just been.

“What on earth was that all about?” she muttered to herself. “They’ll be back in a minute, I bet. They wouldn’t just go off and leave me.”

She waited, glancing expectantly towards the door.

“Any minute now,” Zia said, glancing at her watch.

The silence stretched as her confidence began to waver.

“They’re not coming back, are they?” she whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief. “They’ve left me, haven’t they?”

“Yep,” came a smug voice from the doorway.

Zia spun around to see Eryx leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed and a smirk plastered across his face.

“Just saw them from upstairs,” Eryx continued. “Running down the road. Looked very determined. Guess they didn’t need you.”

Zia’s face dropped as she turned back to her bag, hurriedly stuffing her belongings back inside. “Never showed any appreciation for my spork,” she grumbled under her breath. She grabbed the rest of her things and carried what she could under her arms.

“Better hurry,” Eryx called after her as she bolted for the door, stumbling slightly on the way out. “Don’t want to miss out on the dynamic duo’s latest hijinks.”

Zia didn’t reply, too focussed on catching up as she tore out of the house and down the road.

Eryx paused. His smirk slowly faded, replaced by a flicker of curiosity. Wait a second, he thought. What are they all excited and in such a rush about?

“I hope it’s still there,” said Lyra as they hurried down the street.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Orin asked, trying to keep up without breaking into a run.

“I dunno,” Lyra replied. “What if they built something over it? Or someone moved it?”

“Moved it?” Orin repeated with a small laugh. “Good luck with that. It’s massive.”

“And what if it doesn’t fit?” she asked out loud, more to herself than anyone else.

“It’ll fit,” Orin said firmly. “It’s too perfect not to.”

Lyra’s concern lingered, but before she could reply, a voice rang out from across the road.

“Ooh, ’ello! Fancy seeing you two here!”

They turned to see Mrs Bottom, an elderly woman in a green cardigan and matching skirt, shuffling towards them with a warm smile.

“How are you both?” she asked brightly, not waiting for a response. “I was just watching a programme about Mars. Fascinating, it was. Though I have to say, ever so red it is. Not really my colour. I prefer a nice moss green, I do.”

Lyra and Orin exchanged a quick glance.

Mrs Bottom, the narrator in Lyra’s head chimed in. A beloved babysitter from their childhood—always cheerful, always kind. They loved her dearly, but now wasn’t the best time.

Mrs Bottom carried on. “If I were to visit Mars, I’d have to get a whole new frock. Red and green must never be seen, you know.”

Orin managed a polite smile. “I think it’s a while before you need to worry about that, Mrs Bottom.”

Lyra stepped forward, her tone apologetic. “I’m so sorry, Mrs Bottom, but we’re in a bit of a rush.”

“Oh, don’t let me stop you, dear,” Mrs Bottom said with a wave of her hand. “Off you pop. Say hello to your mum for me, won’t you?”

“Will do, Mrs Bottom. Nice to see you,” Lyra said, already stepping backward.

“Ta-ra!” Mrs Bottom called, turning to shuffle down the road. She muttered to herself as she walked away, her voice just loud enough to catch snippets. “Young ones. So full of energy. That’s the spirit. That’s the spirit, indeed.”

“Wait up!”

Lyra and Orin turned just in time to see Zia hurtling towards them, her backpack bouncing wildly and random items tumbling out as she ran. Just before she could catch up with them, distraction caught up with her as she skidded to a halt. She stooped to grab something, then straightened, holding it aloft by the tail.

“Whoa—cool! A dead rat!”

“Zia!” Lyra exclaimed, half-groaning, half-laughing.

“What?” she said defensively, tossing it back to the ground as she jogged up to them. “Why didn’t you wait for me? I’d never have caught up with you if it weren’t for Mrs B.”

“Sorry, Zia,” Orin said. “We were just… excited.”

“Excited? About what?” Zia looked between them, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Lyra sighed, already turning to walk ahead. “Come on, we’ll explain on the way.”

“You’d better,” Zia grumbled, stuffing half a chocolate bar into her mouth. She broke the other half in two and gave Lyra and Orin a quarter each. Zia was kind like that—even if she did get the biggest piece.

The three of them left behind the uneven, bustling streets of the city. Gradually, the towering buildings gave way to smaller, scattered structures, their height and numbers dwindling as the landscape shifted. Shortly after, they found themselves enveloped by the quiet, tangled embrace of the forest. Lyra felt herself relax as the air grew cooler and fresher, her sketchbook in hand.

They slowed to a walk, the city fading away as the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds took over. The air felt cleaner here, as if the forest was breathing with them. The dirt path meandered through the trees, sunlight casting shifting patterns on the ground.

“Okay, spill it now. What’s going on?” Zia demanded.

Lyra shot Orin a quick look, silently asking where to begin. “The thing,” she said simply. “We think we know where it goes.”

Zia’s earlier grumpiness evaporated, replaced by wide-eyed curiosity. “The weird hexagon thingy?”

“Correct,” Orin replied, his tone very matter-of-fact.

“And?” Zia pressed, nearly bouncing with excitement.

“And we’re going to find out whether it does,” Lyra said, her voice firm with determination as she quickened her pace.

“And where exactly does it go?” Zia asked, panting slightly as she tried to keep up.

Lyra didn’t answer. Her attention was already elsewhere. Without explanation, she sprinted ahead before stopping suddenly. Placing a hand on the rough bark of the wonky tree, she gazed beyond it and shouted back, “Just over there.”

Task

Lyra and Orin found their way back to Emerald Forest with surprising ease, following the winding forest paths and maze-like trails. It wasn’t as daunting as it had seemed, but would you be able to do the same?

The paths are tricky, and there are many dead ends. Can you navigate from the city to Emerald Forest, just as they did?

Draw your path carefully and neatly between the lines, keeping your pencil steady and in the exact centre of the path.